The Colonel & Colette at Yeshbum 2

The Colonel sometimes rambles on about his time with the Royal Camel Corps at Fort Yeshbum, so I thought that I might add a map reference for those unacquainted with the place (courtesy of Mr. & Mrs. Google).

And this is a recent photo of the city of Yeshbum taken by a local chap, a marvellous photographer of his native Yemeni land, a certain Mr. Yasser-M-Alwan.

Here's some of the Turkish camel forces the Colonel mentions in his 'Ballooning Over Arabia' tune.

Captured Turkish camel corps

And a photo of the Colonel with Colette and in camouflage when he was seconded to the Somaliland Camel Corps.

Somaliland c1898

Of course, this was a long time ago and the Colonel's memory gets a tad fuzzy these days as to who is who and when and what. What??!!

A Favourite Respite For The Colonel

Time for a soothing gin and tonic we feel, and perhaps a plate full of Miss. Leonora's delicious lamingtons.

For all those foreign fellows who've never experienced a lamington, it is basically a small cube of sponge cake with a layer of raspberry jam in the centre, dipped in chocolate and sprinkled all over with shredded coconut.

Absolutely delectable,.....if you're that way inclined.

Well, I think it's time to retire to my favourite cane peacock chair on the verandah and watch the world go by....slowly! C'est la vie!!!

Doctor Yorrick's Homemade Appelgebak - Home Delivered!

Overheard at a recent dinner party at Miss. Leonora's house:

Miss. Leonora: And what do YOU think of the good Doctor's tarts, Colonel?
The Colonel: Yum!! Yum!!! Just right for this old Colonel's tum!!

How deliciously delightful!!!

(Customers please note the following statement by the vendor - and especially Mlles. Isabel et Leonora)

And all delivered direct to your door on his very own bicycle built for two (with attached trailer) by the good (but sometimes a tad naughty) Doctor!

The Colonel: Ahem!  All unattached ladies between Lawson and Lithgow also please take note. The Doctor is also available for pleasant rides 'around and about'!!)

[N.B. The Colonel wishes it known that the directly preceding statement was added under extreme duress, namely the potential revelation of the Colonel's secret camel-breeding methods of which 'nothing further will ever be said' - harrumph!!]

An Early Morning Tea Party!

A short bulletin from Katoomba Amusements Company's social events calendar.
Morning Tea at Miss. Isabel Violet Franklin's Daddy's house

On a typical day at Miss. Isabel's abode there is often pre-breakfast snacks, breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, after-dinner snacks, supper and then pre-bedtime cocoa. As Cook doesn't always make rather the most perfect meal every time due to an unfortunate addiction to the local ale and absinthe establishments, Miss. Isabel 'employs' friends and acquaintances as taste-testers from time to time.

Accidentally recorded here by myself, the Colonel, Dr. Yorrick can be seen to have submitted to one of Miss. Isabel's 'requests' regarding her morning tea. It was discovered later that Miss. Leonora, normally the person closest in her immediate vicinity to be seconded to the task of taste-testing, was feeling a little 'under the weather' and somewhat preoccupied with the latest Parisian fashion catalogues fresh from the Continent, to be able to fulfil the role.

Dr. Yorrick took to the task so enthusiastically that Miss. Isabel is considering him for 'permanent staff' if Daddy can afford him.

Suffice it to say, Miss. Isabel enjoyed her morning tea victuals even though there was very little left after Yorrick's extensive taste-testing.

As to my good self, I unfortunately had to be content with a glass of refreshing mountain water.

Afterword: The Colonel can not be held responsible for any rude or inflammatory comments found within the preceding text.

Epicurean Afternoon Tea Society (EATS)

This is latest communication from the Colonel by his infamous patented Pigeon-Morse Code invention, announcing his tentative Epicurean Afternoon Tea Society (EATS) venture.

"Inspired by those intrepid entrepreneurs back in dear Old Blighty, The Great British Tea Party, and that devil-may-care soul, Mr. Nipper of Bicycle and Ukulele fame, I hope to lay down the foundations of a humble mirror venture here in the Antipodes for the benefit of all those who love a lamington, a Liptons and a good lay down, preferably in a hammock!"

With an attached 'tallyho!' and a 'toodlepip!' he seemed to gone again in a proverbial cloud of dust, rather like Toad of Toad Hall, come to think of it.



Note: Please visit Epicurean Afternoon Tea Society (EATS) in our Theatrical listings at the top of this page for the latest communiques.
Also the link above on this post takes you to the G+ page for EATS.